Forbes Feature: How Darshita Raval And Mindhappy Are Making Mindfulness Accessible To All
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Mindhappy has been a bit like riding a rollercoaster with a blindfold on—thrilling highs, unexpected twists, and the occasional reality check when we realize we've barely left the station. It's a wild ride, but every moment is driven by our unwavering purpose and the sheer dedication of our team. Reading Forbes' warm and insightful shout-out felt like a high-five from the universe, refueling our passion to build a community that's not just inclusive but downright cozy—a place that feels like that favorite old sweater you never want to take off. We all have our quirky ways of coping with life's ups and downs, but we're here to offer something a little healthier, a little more joyful —something that reminds us of simpler times. So here's to finding comfort in the familiar and crafting smiles out of the everyday. Thank you for the encouragement. We're just getting warmed up!
Here are beautiful words by Steven Aquino :
On its website, Mindhappy has a unique elevator pitch. The company says, “Most subscription services make you consume mindlessly. Ours makes you more mindful.” Mindhappy runs a subscription service whereby it sends customers a mystery box of materials intended to help pre-occupied adults “reclaim their attention” with calming, hands-on activities. The company emphasizes the boxes truly are an all-in-one solution, so a person needn’t google instructions or scour YouTube for how-to tutorials. Everything is provided, with Mindhappy touting they collaborated with 500 small business owners to build projects that do double duty as great-looking pieces of home decor to boot.
Mindhappy is the brainchild of Darshita Raval. In an interview late last month, Raval, whose background is in logistics such as operations and supply chain and who previously worked at Amazon and Boeing, explained after moving to the United States at age 15, she felt “so alone and unhappy” because her previous jobs had her nomadically moving from city to city to city. This constant movement meant she had no roots, no “close knit group of people” around her to provide love and support. She would go on an emotional journey that involved redefining herself, discovering that there were things like painting which brought her joy. One day, Raval found herself in a children’s store and came across a unicorn knitting kit and thought she could do it too. As she told me, the kit was a way to ground herself and unplug from the incessant barrage of notifications on her phone. It was therapy done with decidedly analog, low-tech tools. The kit, she said, reminded her of the pleasure of experiencing tech-free, simple joys. Importantly, it lifted her mood.
These experiences lit the spark for what would become Mindhappy.
“I began to improve my focus, mood, and energy,” Raval said. “Then I began to these activities it with my friends, family and my community. It felt fun and meaningful. That’s when I realized, ‘Okay, this is how I can make a positive impact.’”
Mindhappy, Raval told me, is targeted at “an adult who is looking to improve their focus and concentration” while adding more joy and meaning to their life. Moreover, Mindhappy is for anyone who wants to at least somewhat break free of the proverbial ball-and-chain known as their smartphone, as well as those who may develop unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with life’s stressors. Raval astutely noted the pandemic has wrought a tendency for most people to “distance themselves” from actual community and from things that bring them joy. In Raval’s eyes, Mindhappy’s activity boxes are an ideal solution because they provide senses of community and connection in addition to individual contentment. She noted Mindhappy is great for get-togethers or date nights, telling me the company sells products for a group of people looking for creativity and wholesomeness through play.
Expounding further on the notion of unplugging, Raval said Mindhappy is a similar, albeit analog, tool to more tech-driven mental wellness options like Calm and Headspace. What makes Mindhappy stand out, she said, is precisely the fact it is anchored in manual play and creativity. This concept isn’t new: Raval said Mindhappy’s essence lies in child’s play and hands-on manipulation. Mindhappy is not some fanciful, pie-in-the-sky pseudoscience. There is actual science involved, as early childhood professionals have long advocated play and hands-on exploration of the world as a child’s best method of learning. Raval has taken inspiration from said scientific research and applied it to adults, with the understanding that fully-grown adults still can benefit from the foundational idea of using your hands to explore and be imaginative.
Mindhappy stands out in the marketplace, Raval told me, because not everyone has the time or resources to invest in conventional mindfulness activities like yoga or a gym membership. There is convenience (and accessibility) in the fact Raval and team deliver a box to one’s doorstep with everything needed to “step back and take a breath.” The bottom line for Mindhappy, Raval said, is the company strives to “[provide] this alternative way to relax by bringing something playful and fun.”
My conversation with Raval coincided with Mindhappy’s announcement in late March that it was “proudly [launching] direct-to-consumer today across the United States.” In addition, the company shared plans to “[provide] support and opportunities to businesses” through its corporate wellness program and has forged “ongoing partnerships” with institutions such as the University of Maryland and others.
From a disability perspective, Mindhappy is interesting. For one thing, there’s tremendous value in the sheer fact the company ships directly to doorsteps with everything one needs to get going included in the box. From a logistical and cognition standpoint, that does a lot in alleviating mental overhead and anxiety. What’s more, Mindhappy may well prove soothing to someone who’s neurodiverse, for instance, who easily gets overwhelmed by technology and needs an outlet to decompress and find calm. Even better still, that Mindhappy is so analog and hands-on means someone with lackluster fine-motor skills can use the activities to improve upon their dexterity. As I often want to say, accessibility and assistive tech touches every part of life; Mindhappy is no exception.
When asked about feedback, Raval said it’s been positive. She pointed to an event held in Los Angeles back in November during which attendees were provided kits featuring clay, alongside some nostalgic snacks like candy, and everyone was “so busy expressing themselves freely.” There also was a lot of conversation around the things that makes people happy, with many sharing some fairly intimate details about what brings them happiness. It was “amazing” for Raval and team to bear witness to it all. Raval was especially keen to note the materials sourced for the event came from women-run businesses and were of the highest quality.
“I’m so proud to say we have a variety of thoughtfully curated items from small business owners and they’re all beautiful.” she said. “I think people have enjoyed the experience and the mission behind Mindhappy.”
Looking towards the future, Raval told me she and her team are optimistic. She said a priority is innovating further by taking into consideration feedback from customers and ensuring Mindhappy is “creating a platform that optimizes the service” for everyone. Beyond that, Raval said the company hopes to “build more touch points” with the community so as to be more inclusive and encourage more people to experience the products. Raval said the company looks forward doing this through pop-ups and other similar events in the time to come.
“My hope is [customers] feel like they’re reconnecting with their own selves with Mindhappy,” she said.
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From a disability perspective, Mindhappy is interesting. For one thing, there’s tremendous value in the sheer fact the company ships directly to doorsteps with everything one needs to get going included in the box. From a logistical and cognition standpoint, that does a lot in alleviating mental overhead and anxiety. What’s more, Mindhappy may well prove soothing to someone who’s neurodiverse, for instance, who easily gets overwhelmed by technology and needs an outlet to decompress and find calm. Even better still, that Mindhappy is so analog and hands-on means someone with lackluster fine-motor skills can use the activities to improve upon their dexterity. As I’m often wont to say, accessibility and assistive tech touches every part of life; Mindhappy is no exception.
When asked about feedback, Raval said it’s been positive. She pointed to an event held in Los Angeles back in November during which attendees were provided kits featuring clay, alongside some nostalgic snacks like candy, and everyone was “so busy expressing themselves freely.” There also was a lot of conversation around the things that makes people happy, with many sharing some fairly intimate details about what brings them happiness. It was “amazing” for Raval and team to bear witness to it all. Raval was especially keen to note the materials sourced for the event came from women-run businesses and were of the highest quality.
“I’m so proud to say we have a variety of thoughtfully curated items from business owners like small businesses, and they’re beautiful. They’re absolutely amazing,” she said. “I think people have enjoyed using them and I think people have enjoyed the mission behind Mindhappy.”
Looking towards the future, Raval told me she and her team are optimistic. She said a priority is innovating further by taking into consideration feedback from customers and ensuring Mindhappy is “creating a platform that optimizes the service” for everyone. Beyond that, Raval said the company hopes to “build more touch points” with the community so as to be more inclusive and encourage more people to experience the products. Raval said the company looks forward doing this through pop-ups and other similar events in the time to come.
“My hope is [customers] feel like they’re reconnecting with their own selves with Mindhappy,” she said.
